Something a little different this time. A short story.

Lily and Destin: A Love Story

“Mom, you don’t even know him!” she said, her eyes filling with tears.

Lily and her mother, Sophie, were arguing again about her boyfriend, Destin.

“You’re a monarch. He’s a spider. It’s just not right!” she said, more loudly than she intended. Sophie’s voice softened. “It’s dangerous, honey. I worry about you.”

Lily wished she could convince her mother that she had him all wrong. She wanted to tell her how good he was to her. How he listened to her—really listened—and made her feel special. How he told her she was beautiful every single day. How he gave her little gifts for no reason—a crumpled housefly, a moth, a mosquito. She wanted to explain all this to her mother, but she knew she wouldn’t understand. How could she? Her mom was hopelessly out of touch. She was so old—almost five weeks old!

Lily ran to Destin and found him working on his web. He held his long arms out to her. “What is it, sweetie? What’s the matter?” He was as warm and welcoming as a sunbeam.

She cuddled up to him and laid her head on his cephalothorax. “My mother,” she sighed.

“Oh,” he said softly.

They’d been through this countless times, and Destin knew there was nothing he could do, nothing he could say. Sophie had hated him from day one, and she gave no indication that she would ever change her mind. They lay there in silence for a long moment. Suddenly remembering, he said, “Hey, I got you something.” He handed her a package wrapped in silk. Lily was a picky eater—she’d eaten nothing but milkweed her whole life, in fact—but Destin’s precious presents always warmed her heart.